Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage - Tapa dura

Jeremy Butterfield has given us easily the best edition of this beloved work since H. W. Fowler's original. For anyone who cares about the English language, this book will provide helpful guidance and fascinating distraction in equal measure. (Times Literary Supplement, Benjamin George Friedman)

The book is impressively up to date, with entries on internet-related neologisms: hash-tag is here and selfie, and the verb to google (which Butterfield does not object to, insisting only that is should be capitalized) ... easily the best edition of this beloved work since H.W Fowler's original. For anyone who cares about the English language, this book will provide helpful guidance and fascinating distraction in equal measure. (Benjamin George Friedman, The Times Literary Supplement)

Butterfield's passion for discussing language is evident throughout ... This edition is rich in examples of language in use and discussion of debates about appropriate usage. (Lisa Pettifer, Babel: The Language Magazine)

here is another fascinating tome that will be in constant use by yours truly (Suffolk & Norfolk Life)

Butterfield has created a guide that is readable for entertainment as well as enlightenment. (World Wide Words, Michael Quinion)

I must congratulate Jeremy Butterfield, editor of the latest edition of Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage. To wordsmiths such as myself, Fowler's is akin to the Koran or the Bible. (The Herald, Alan Taylor)

Why literally shouldn't be taken literally.

Why Americans think home in on something is a mistake and Brits think hone in is.

Is it OK to spell OK okay?

What's wrong with hence why?

Was Alanis Morrisette ever ironic?
Fowler's Dictionary of Modern English Usage is the world-famous guide to English usage, loved and used by writers, editors, and anyone who values correct English since it first appeared in 1926. Fowler's gives comprehensive and practical advice on complex points of grammar, syntax, punctuation, style, and word choice.
Now enlarged and completely revised to reflect English usage in the 21st century, it provides a crystal-clear, authoritative picture of the English we use, while illuminating scores of usage questions old and new.

International in scope, it gives in-depth coverage of both British and American English usage issues, with reference also to the English of Australia, Canada, India, New Zealand, and South Africa. The thousands of authentic examples in the book vividly demonstrate how modern writers tackls debated usage issues. They come on the one hand from established literary figures such as Chinua Achebe, Peter Ackroyd, Raymond Carver, Iris Murdoch, Harold Pinter, and Vikram Seth. On the other, they are drawn from a vast range of newspapers, journals, books, broadcast material, websites, and other digital sources from across the globe, and include references to topical personalities such as Stephen Fry, Prince Harry, Jeremy Paxman, and Wayne Rooney.

Based on the evidence and research of the Oxford Dictionaries Programme, this is the most comprehensive and authoritative guide to usage available.